Helen Roebuck’s Post

Police shooting - Balzan DNA on gun The events leading up to the terrible loss of Brad Balzan’s life in 2020, are the subject of an ongoing coronial inquest. The process of giving expert evidence at an inquest is rather different to a criminal court. In this matter, I was engaged by the Crown Solicitors Office which conducts itself more as a finder of fact. There was expert evidence provided by NSW FASS, which I reviewed, and we gave concurrent oral evidence to the inquest. Concurrent evidence is a useful process which can be a more productive method of getting to the facts themselves. It is interesting that court processes in Australia involving complex scientific evidence never proceed with the benefit of a scientific advisor/member on the bench. The DNA evidence before the inquest considered; -      2 x Glock service pistols -      Pistol grip -      Pistol slide -      Pistol trigger -      Safety mechanism -      Shovel – Various areas -      Pistol holster In this case there was no body worn video footage for consideration of the event itself. The police shooting has drawn significant attention regarding stop and search methods, and proactive policing. It is difficult to fathom how devasted Mr Balzan’s family must be.